A Desperate Housewife warmly embracing an older man after an intimate lunch date may not seem all that unusual... until you realise he's an 82-year-old former US President.

Teri Hatcher met up with George Bush Snr in Los Angeles last week - and after enjoying a quiet meal together they strolled happily from the restaurant before exchanging fond farewells.

Ms Hatcher, 42, who plays Susan Mayer in TV's Desperate Housewives, was even treated to a pat on the bottom by the ex-President.

Mr Bush's chief of staff Jean Becker revealed that the actress and former president, who left office in 1993, have been firm friends for about three years - and regularly email each other their news.

Mr Bush was visiting LA to collect an award and rang Ms Hatcher before arriving to arrange the lunch date at the exclusive LA Country Club in Beverly Hills.

Ms Becker said Mr Bush and Ms Hatcher met at a dinner party hosted by hotelier Steve Wynn.

"The two of them just really hit it off and they have been friends ever since," she said.